Intro
What does print on demand cost?
Print on demand (POD) typically costs between €2.50 and €9.00 per book, depending on the provider, specifications and order volume.
👉 In our benchmark, we see price differences of more than 200% between providers for identical books.
POD is often used for small print runs, but in many cases it overlaps with short-run digital printing.
What is print on demand?
Print on demand means books are printed only after an order is placed, instead of being produced in bulk.
This allows:
- no upfront inventory
- lower financial risk
- flexible order quantities
However, the price per book is usually higher compared to larger print runs.
Average print on demand cost
Typical POD pricing:
- €2.50 – €9.00 per book
- higher for low volumes (1–10 copies)
- lower for short runs (50–200 copies)
👉 For 100 copies, POD pricing often overlaps with short-run digital printing.
What influences POD pricing?
Several factors determine the final price:
Page count
More pages increase printing costs.
Black & white vs color
Color interiors are significantly more expensive.
Format and size
Standard formats (A5, 6×9) are cheaper.
Binding and finishing
Paperback is cheaper than hardcover.
Provider pricing model
Each provider uses different margins and production setups.
POD vs short-run printing
For small quantities, the difference between POD and short-run printing is often unclear.
👉 In practice:
- POD = fully automated, per-order printing
- short-run = small batch digital printing
👉 For 100 books, both methods are often priced similarly.
Read more about the structure of costs on our book printing costs page.
Is print on demand the cheapest option?
👉 For very small quantities (1–20 copies): YES
👉 For medium quantities (50–200 copies):
not always
At this level, short-run printing can be just as cheap — or cheaper.
When should you use POD?
Print on demand is ideal when:
- you want to avoid inventory
- you sell books online per order
- you are testing demand
When is POD NOT ideal?
POD may be less suitable when:
- you need the lowest possible price
- you print larger quantities (100+)
- you require specific print quality or finishes
Compare real POD costs
Want to see how print on demand pricing compares across providers?
Conclusion
Print on demand offers flexibility and low risk, but prices can vary significantly between providers.
👉 Comparing providers is essential to find the best option for your project.
